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Reduce Taste and Odor Problems

Excessive cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and green algae growth in a water reservoir for drinking water can have negative consequences for the water quality.

The water turns green, sand filters can clog, and some algae can produce geosmins and MIB- giving the water an ‘earthy’ and ‘molty’ taste, which can result in customer complaints. In addition, cyanobacteria may produce toxins that can cause serious illness in humans consuming the water. Therefore, an algae problem is often unwanted, and algae control is desired.

Algae in drinking water reservoirs

In drinking water reservoirs and other water bodies algae growth can occur. Algae cells need light, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients, which are naturally occurring in water, in order to grow. An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. Excessive algal growth can result in the occurrence of several algae related by-products, such as toxins, MIB, and geosmins. These by-products can have a serious impact on the water quality. Nutrient buildup in a lake or reservoir can be due to irrigational run-off, pollution from industries, and a general build-up of organic material at the bottom of the lake or reservoir.

Reduce algae concentration

Especially in the summer months, when the water temperature increases, the concentration of algae can grow exponentially. Water in raw water reservoir is often stagnant, the lack of circulation of the water can cause the algae to over-compete other organisms in the ecosystem and thus create massive algae blooms. In order to deal with these by-products, water treatment plant (WTP) operators often use copper sulfate in a raw reservoir to control the algae. Additionally, Activated Carbon filters are used to remove geosmins, MIB, and Toxins from the final product. Removing algae from the water treatment plant is expensive and time consuming (e.g., the removal and cleaning of the sand filters).

Which Product do I need?

Depending on the length of the water surface we offer different variations of our products. Please contact us for a solution that fits your specific needs.

Algal blooms can be reduced by 70-90% in concentration, compared to no treatment

100% Copper Sulfate Reduction

Four solar-powered algae control buoys were installed in the Canoe Brook Reservoir #1 in Short Hills, NJ to assess the impact of the system for controlling algae and cyanobacteria in the raw water reservoir. The four buoys operated for five months in the spring/summer 2014.

“Extensive testing conducted during 2014 showed that the buoys had a signiﬁcant impact on the algae, allowing the plant to reduce chemical consumption by more than 20 percent, and reducing the concentration of undesirable taste and odor causing compounds in the treated water delivered to customers”.

Orren Schneider, Manager Water Technology

LG Sonic is running MPC-Buoy projects in more than 20 countries worldwide